Hi,
Celebrating Independence day in Gaza strip while fighting in IDF uniforms should have emotional and significant, after all we are fighting for our Independence in the very day we are celebrating it.
But we did not noticed it all, we had to deal with our fights and combat activites instead. When I understand it is Independence day, I started greeting everybody with happy holiday. It took them a moment to understand which holiday I am talking about. When they did, most ask “It is today?”.
Instead of the IAF Independence day air show, we sometimes watch from the beach, we got the IAF flights over Gaza strip bombing and firing on fight targets as we are walking exposed in the streets of the strip.
I tried to keep another tradition of the day – Al Ha-Esh (Mangal). As we did not have the privilege to lite a charcoals and we do not get any fresh food (so nothing to talk about fresh meat), I had to improvised with what I had: Kabanos on a lighter 
But it is not only the fact we did not celebrate the day made it feel different this year. The feeling we are not fighting here on our Independence, but on the survival of the government that cannot take a decision on how to go forward in this situation: to release the hostages, get in Rafah or not, end the war on Gaza strip, dealing with the situation on the north (where border line settlements are still empty)
Take Care
Gad
Making Al Hash in the middle of Gaza: Kabanos on a lighter